Bush Boosts Martinez Coffers In Top Fund-raiser

October 10, 1986|By Robert A. Liff, Sentinel Miami Bureau

MIAMI — Vice President George Bush helped add $600,000 to Bob Martinez's campaign for governor Thursday night in what Republicans said was the most lucrative political fund-raiser for a statewide GOP race in Florida history.

But it was the race for the U.S. Senate seat held by Republican Paula Hawkins of Winter Park that drew Bush's harshest comments.

Without naming Democratic Gov. Bob Graham, Hawkins' challenger, Bush expressed sorrow that ''some right here in the state'' are exploiting the public outcry over drugs for ''pure political gain and venal expediency.''

''I'd like to see that drug issue out of the carping negative of partisan politics,'' Bush said.

Hawkins, who has proclaimed herself the Senate's ''general in the war on drugs,'' has stressed throughout her campaign her concern about drug problems. Graham surprised most political observers this month by questioning whether Hawkins' involvement in the drug issue is more fluff than substance.

Martinez, the former mayor of Tampa, joined Bush in Miami's Omni Hotel as Bush lauded him as a man who ''gets results.''

Martinez said he wants supporters of defeated Democratic candidate Jim Smith to help make him the state's first Republican governor since Claude Kirk and only the second since Reconstruction.

Smith lost the Democratic nomination for governor to former state Rep. Steve Pajcic of Jacksonville.

''We're confident we will get at least one of three Democrats,'' Martinez told a cheering crowd.

Former state Rep. Bobby Brantley of Longwood, Martinez's running mate, underscored that point when he introduced Smith's daughter Kathryn, who said she is supporting Martinez in the general election.

Martinez noted that he won 61 of Florida's 67 counties in the Sept. 30 Republican runoff, while Pajcic won only 14 counties in his party's runoff.

Martinez campaign manager John ''Mac'' Stipanovich said the fund-raiser took in more than $600,000 and will generate more than $500,000 after expenses are paid. He called it the biggest GOP fund-raiser in Florida history.

''What we make tonight will pay for the fourth week of television,'' Stipanovich said.

Tickets for the fund-raiser sponsored by the Martinez campaign cost $200 each for the dinner. Couples could pay $3,000 each for the dinner and a private reception.

Bush, after speaking to Coral Gables High School students this morning, goes to Jacksonville and Gainesville to speak on behalf of Hawkins. She will not attend the events, an aide said, because of a Senate debate on a drug measure. The aide said the senator's husband, Gene, will stand in for her.